Wireless signal transmission system, method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for conducting local wireless audio signal transmissions from a local audio signal source to a person within a local signal transmission area. In certain embodiments, the transmissions are conducted over the 900 MHz local transmission band to a portable receiver unit supported on the headband of a stereo headphone unit. The receiver unit serves to down convert the 900 MHz signal to a local frequency band which is received by an FM receiver of the receiver unit which serves to reproduce the audio signals therefrom which are, in turn, converted to acoustic signals by electroacoustic transducers of the headphone. A transmitter unit includes a ceramic resonator stabilized FM transmitter, as well a filter for suppressing high frequency noise in an audio modulation signal, a stereo audio multiplexing unit utilizing a 3f H  subcarrier and an overmodulation detection unit. In certain embodiments, the receiver unit is powered by a rechargeable battery which is recharged from the transmitter unit.

This application is a Rule 1.60 continuation application of U.S. Ser.No. 08/259,339, filed Jun. 13, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,735 whichissued on Apr. 25, 1995, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.07/822,598 filed on Jan. 17, 1992, now abandoned, which application wasitself a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 665,772,filed Mar. 7, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,525. U.S. Pat. Nos.5,272,525 and 5,410,735 were assigned to Recoton Corporation as wasapplication Ser. No. 822,598.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless signal transmission systems,methods and apparatus, for example, radio transmission apparatus fortransmitting audio signals within a local transmission area to aportable radio receiver means carried on the person of the user.

Personal wireless audio signal transmission apparatus include systemswhich transmit audio signals, such as television audio signals, by meansof infrared light received by a personal infrared light receiving deviceworn by a listener. It will be appreciated that such transmissionsystems require a line-of-sight transmission path, so that the system isnot workable if walls, furniture or other objects intervene between thetransmitter and receiver. Accordingly, while infrared transmissionsystems may be useful where, for example, a person is seated severalfeet from a television receiver to which the infrared transmitter isconnected for transmitting television sound, the transmission path maybe interrupted if, for example, the listener turns his or her head awayfrom the transmitter or a person walks between the transmitter and thelistener. Moreover, it is not practical to utilize an infraredtransmission system where, for example, the listener is positioned inanother room or outside a building in which the transmitter is located.

Local wireless television transmission systems are available whichtransmit television signals from a local source, such as a television orVCR, within the 900 MHz local television transmission band to a receiverwhich downconverts the television signals to a frequency band which maybe tuned by a conventional television receiver. Such systems, therefore,employ receivers which are designed for use with a stationery televisionset and which optionally utilize a directional antenna carefullypositioned for best reception of the 900 Mhz signals radiated by thelocal transmitter. It is desirable, therefore, that the receiver act asa stable base for supporting the receiving antenna in the bestdisposition to receive the locally transmitted signal, and therefore,the receiver is typically of a size and weight not practical forcarrying on the person of a listener.

Many television stations now include stereo audio signals in theirtransmissions. It is, therefore, desirable that a personal wirelessaudio signal transmission apparatus provide the capability oftransmitting stereo audio signals reproduced by a television receiver.Conventionally, stereo audio signals are formed by adding the right andleft audio channels to form a first signal and subtracting the right andleft channels to form a second signal which is modulated on a subcarrierof 38 kilohertz. The subcarrier is suppressed and the combination of thefirst signal, the subcarrier suppressed modulated second signal and apilot signal having a frequency of 19 kilohertz (one-half that of thesubcarrier), constituting a multiplexed stereo signal, modulates acarrier for transmission. Conventional integrated circuits for producingsuch multiplexed stereo signals are available commercially.

However, audio signals provided by a television receiver typicallycontain unwanted components at the horizontal frequency of the videosignal (approximately 15.734 kilohertz in an NTSC signal) and harmonicsthereof. Applicants have found that the use of a 38 kilohertz subcarrierto form the multiplexed stereo signal causes mixing with the secondharmonic of the NTSC signal, resulting in audible beat interference. Inan attempt to overcome this problem, applicants have instead employed asubcarrier having a frequency equal to two times the horizonal frequencyof the video signal, approximately 31.5 kilohertz. However, similar beatinterference problems resulted. Applicants further attempted to overcomethis problem with the use of a subcarrier equal to four times thehorizontal video frequency, but were unsuccessful due to a loss ofstereo separation resulting from the use of an excessively highsubcarrier frequency.

With the introduction of digital audio recording media, such as compactdiscs, and digital reproduction techniques, the ability to reproducehigh quality audio signals having superior frequency response and widedynamic range requires the provision of a similarly capable personalwireless transmission system. The transmitter of such a system must becapable of modulating a carrier without introducing audible distortionat the receiver, for example, due to overmodulation. Transmitterstypically employ an overmodulation detector which provides a visualindication when the level of the modulating signal is excessive, thus toenable a user to avoid overmodulation distortion while maintaining adesirably high signal-to-noise ratio.

Conventional overmodulation detectors utilize a threshold detector whoseoutput changes state when a level of a modulation signal exceeds apredetermined threshold level, and resumes a prior state once the levelof the modulation signal falls below the predetermined threshold level.The output of the threshold detector is used to drive a visualindicator, such as an LED. However, modulation signals which exceed thethreshold level for only brief intervals might not produce a visibleindication by the conventional apparatus. This becomes especiallytroublesome where the modulation signal is supplied by a source such asa compact disc player which can produce an output signal having muchsharper peaks than typical analog reproduction devices such as aphonograph or magnetic tape recorder. Accordingly, it is possible that aconventional overmodulation detector will be unable to provide a visibleindication of sharp peaks in the modulation signal, such as thoseprovided by a compact disk player, with the result that objectionableovermodulation distortion is audible at the receiver, but not detectableby the overmodulation detection circuit.

It will be readily appreciated that a personal wireless audio receivermust be battery operated in order to permit mobility of the person whilethe receiver is in use. However, the need to replace worn out batteriesfrom time to time is a nuisance, so that it is desirable to employrechargeable batteries to power a personal wireless audio receiver. Itis also inconvenient, however, to remove rechargeable batteries forrecharging and subsequently reinstall the same. In addition, the usermay find that the batteries need recharging when it is desired to resumeuse of the receiver, which is also inconvenient.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide apersonal wireless signal transmission system, apparatus and method whichalleviate the problems and shortcomings of the above described systemsand techniques.

Another object of the invention is to provide a local wireless signaltransmission system and method which both is economical and provides theability to transmit signals with low distortion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a local wirelesssignal transmission system and method which employ personal receivermeans carryable on the person of the user thereof and which provide bothconvenient and economical operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a localwireless audio signal transmission system, as well as a personalwireless receiver unit for use with such a system, wherein frequencymodulated signals transmitted within a first relatively high frequencyband are downconverted to a second lower frequency band for reception byminiaturized frequency modulation receiver means, thus to provide aneconomical, lightweight personal audio receiver which may be worn orcarried by a user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a localwireless audio signal transmission system and method for transmittinghigh quality audio signals from a local audio signal source, which issubject to high frequency audio noise, such as a television receiver.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anovermodulation detector apparatus and method capable of generating avisual indication of the occurrence of overmodulation, even when causedby modulation signals of very brief duration.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus of transmitting stereo audio signals from a receivedtelevision signal which avoids the problem of subcarrier beatinterference with video signal components of the television signal.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a localwireless signal transmission system comprises: radio frequencyoscillator means for producing a radio frequency carrier, the radiofrequency oscillator means including a ceramic resonator forestablishing a first predetermined frequency of the radio frequencycarrier; modulation means coupled with the ceramic resonator forshifting the frequency of the radio frequency carrier in response to amodulation signal for producing a frequency modulated radio frequencysignal; means for radiating the frequency modulated radio frequencysignal within a local transmission area; and receiver means forreceiving the radiated signal within the local transmission area, thereceiver means being further operative to demodulate the received signalto reproduce the modulation signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a localwireless signal transmission method comprises the steps of: producing aradio frequency carrier having a first predetermined frequencyestablished by a ceramic resonator; shifting the frequency of the radiofrequency carrier from the first predetermined frequency in response toa modulation signal to produce a frequency modulated radio frequencysignal; radiating the frequency modulated radio frequency signal withina local transmission area; receiving the radiated signal within thelocal transmission area; and demodulating the received signal toreproduce the modulation signal.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a localwireless audio signal transmission system for transmitting audio signalsfrom a local audio signal source to a person within a local signaltransmission area comprises: local radio transmitter means fortransmitting the audio signals wirelessly within the local signaltransmission area in the form of frequency modulated radio signalswithin a first, relatively high frequency band; and personal wirelessreceiver means for receiving the frequency modulated radio signals forreproducing the audio signals therefrom, the personal wireless receivermeans comprising: antenna means for receiving the locally transmittedfrequency modulated radio signals; downconversion means fordownconverting the received frequency modulated radio signals to asecond frequency band including signal frequencies lower than signalfrequencies included in the first, relatively high frequency band;frequency modulation receiver means for receiving the downconvertedfrequency modulated radio signals and reproducing the audio signalstherefrom; and coupling means for supplying the reproduced audio signalsfrom the frequency modulation receiver means to electroacoustictransducer means.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, apersonal wireless receiver unit for receiving locally transmittedfrequency modulated audio signals produced by a local wireless audiosignal transmitter, the locally transmitted signals being producedwithin a first, relatively high frequency band, comprises: antenna meansfor receiving the locally transmitted signals; downconversion means fordownconverting the received locally transmitted frequency modulatedaudio signals to a second frequency band including signal frequencieslower than signal frequencies included in the first, relatively highfrequency band of the received locally transmitted frequency modulatedaudio signals; frequency modulation receiver means for receiving thedownconverted frequency modulated audio signals and reproducing audiosignals therefrom; and coupling means for supplying the reproduced audiosignals from the frequency modulation receiver means to electroacoustictransducer means.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a localwireless audio signal transmission system for transmitting audio signalsfrom a local audio signal source to a person within a local signaltransmission area, comprises: local radio transmitter means fortransmitting the audio signals wirelessly within the local signaltransmission area in the form of modulated radio signals, the localradio transmitter means including input means for receiving the audiosignals, low pass filter means for attenuating noise in the receivedaudio signals above a predetermined frequency value, and means forproducing radio frequency transmission signals modulated by the filteredaudio signals; and personal radio receiver means for receiving themodulated radio frequency transmission signals and carryable on theperson of a user, the personal radio receiver means comprising means fordemodulating the received signals to reproduce the filtered audiosignals and electroacoustic transducer means for converting the filteredaudio signals to signals audible by the user.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, alocal wireless audio signal transmission method for transmitting audiosignals from a local audio signal source to a person within a localsignal transmission area comprises the steps of: receiving the audiosignals from the local audio signal source at an input of a local radiotransmitter means; low pass filtering the received audio signals toattenuate noise therein above a predetermined frequency value; producingradio frequency transmission signals modulated by the filtered audiosignals; receiving the modulated radio frequency transmission signalswith the use of a personal radio receiver means carried on the person ofa user; demodulating the received signals by means of the personal radioreceiver means to reproduce the filtered audio signals; and convertingthe filtered audio signals to signals audible by the user.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a localwireless signal transmission system comprises: radio frequencytransmitter means for transmitting a signal within a local wirelesssignal transmission area, the radio frequency transmitter meansincluding means for coupling to a source of electrical energy; andpersonal receiver means carryable on the person of a user thereof forreceiving the transmitted signal within the local wireless signaltransmission area, the receiver means including rechargeable batterymeans for providing operating power to the receiver means, and firstcoupling means for receiving power for recharging the rechargeablebattery means; the transmitter means including second coupling means forcoupling with the first coupling means of the receiver means forsupplying recharging power to the rechargeable battery means from thesource of electrical energy when the receiver means is placed in contactwith the transmitter means; the transmitter means further includingswitching means operative in a first switching mode for disablingtransmissions by the transmitter means when the first coupling means iscoupled with the second coupling means for supplying recharging power tothe receiver means, the switching means being further operative in asecond switching mode for enabling transmissions by the transmittermeans when the first coupling means is uncoupled from the secondcoupling means.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a methodof operating a local wireless signal transmission system comprises thesteps of: providing radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting asignal within a local wireless signal transmission area; coupling theradio frequency transmitter means with a source of electrical energy;providing a personal receiver means carryable on the person of a userthereof for receiving the transmitted signal within the local wirelesssignal transmission area, the personal receiver means includingrechargeable battery means for providing operating power to the personalreceiver means; coupling the radio frequency transmitter means with thepersonal receiver means to supply power from the radio frequencytransmitter means to the personal receiver means for recharging therechargeable battery means; disabling transmissions by the radiofrequency transmitter means when the rechargeable battery means of thepersonal receiver means is supplied with recharging power from the radiofrequency transmitter means; uncoupling the radio frequency transmittermeans and the receiver means to disable the supply of recharging power;and enabling transmissions by the radio frequency transmitter means uponuncoupling of the radio frequency transmitter means from the personalreceiver means.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, anovermodulation detector comprises: input means for receiving amodulation signal; detector means for producing overmodulation detectionsignals in response to absolute values of the modulation signalexceeding a predetermined signal level, the detector means beingoperative to produce respective ones of the overmodulation detectionsignals in response to corresponding narrow peaks of the modulationsignal having absolute values which exceed said predetermined signallevel for respective periods less than a predetermined duration suchthat the respective ones of the overmodulation detection signals eachhave a duration exceeding the respective period of its correspondingpeak; and indicator means for indicating an overmodulation condition toa user in response to the overmodulation detection signals.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, amethod for detecting overmodulation by a modulation signal comprises thesteps of: producing overmodulation detection signals in response toabsolute values of the modulation signal exceeding a predeterminedsignal level, respective ones of the overmodulation detection signalsproduced in response to corresponding narrow peaks of the modulationsignal having absolute values which exceed said predetermined signallevel for respective periods less than a predetermined duration eachhaving a duration exceeding the respective period of its correspondingpeak; and indicating an overmodulation condition to a user in responseto the overmodulation detection signals.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method oftransmitting stereo audio signals from a received television signalhaving a horizonal frequency f_(H) comprises the steps of: receivingright and left channel audio signals obtained by demodulation from thereceived television signal; adding the right and left channel audiosignals to form a first combined audio signal; subtracting the right andleft channel audio signals to form a second combined audio signal;modulating a subcarrier with one of the first and second combined audiosignals, the subcarrier having a frequency substantially equal to 3f_(H)to form a subcarrier modulated signal; combining the other of the firstand second combined audio signals with the subcarrier suppressed signalto form a stereo multiplexed audio signal; and transmitting the stereomultiplexed audio signal.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, atransmitter apparatus for transmitting stereo multiplexed audio signalsfrom a received television signal having a horizonal frequency f_(H)comprises: input means for receiving right and left channel audiosignals obtained by demodulation from the received television signal;means for adding the right and left channel audio signals to form afirst combined audio signal; means for subtracting the right and leftchannel audio signals to form a second combined audio signal; means formodulating a subcarrier with one of the first and second combined audiosignals, the subcarrier having a frequency substantially equal to 3f_(H)to form a subcarrier modulated signal; means for combining the other ofthe first and second combined audio signals with the subcarriermodulated signal to form a stereo multiplexed audio signal; andtransmitter means for transmitting the stereo multiplexed audio signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a transmitter unit and a receiver unitof a local wireless audio signal transmission system in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the transmitter unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic view of a stereo audio cable for use with amodified transmitter unit in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a power switching circuit and batterycharger of the transmitter unit of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an overmodulation detector of thetransmitter unit of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram for illustrating the operation of theovermodulation detector of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 6A are block diagrams of radio frequency circuitsincorporated in the transmitter unit of FIG. 2A; and

FIGS. 7A-7E are block diagrams of a receiver unit of the FIG. 1embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of a receiver unitin accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference first to FIG. 1, a local wireless audio signaltransmission system in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention includes a transmitter unit 20 for transmitting multiplexedstereo audio signals over the 900 MHz local transmission band extendingfrom approximately 902 MHz to 928 MHz, and a receiver unit 22 forreceiving the multiplexed stereo audio signals transmitted from thetransmitter unit 20. The receiver unit 22 includes a stereo headphoneunit 24 which enables the receiver unit 22 to be worn on the head of alistener. The headphone unit 24 includes a headband support member 26together with left and right electroacoustic transducer elements coveredby respective earpads 28 and 30. Receiver circuits of the unit 22 areenclosed by a first housing 32 mounted on the headband support member 26adjacent earpad 30, while a rechargeable battery is enclosed within asecond housing 34 mounted on the headband support member 26 adjacent theearpad 28. The receiver circuit is coupled with the rechargeable batteryby battery leads (not shown for purposes of simplicity and clarity)supported by the member 26.

Transmitter unit 20 includes a stereo audio input cable 37 for couplingthe unit 20 with a stereo audio signal source. Transmitter unit 20 isalso provided with a one quarter wavelength transmitting antenna 72 forwirelessly transmitting the 900 MHz multiplexed stereo audio modulatedsignal to the receiver unit 22 which receives the same at a receivingantenna 210 which is also supported by the headband support member 26.The rechargeable battery enclosed with the second housing 34 of thereceiver unit 22 is coupled with a recharging input jack 35 which, asillustrated in FIG. 1, is shown connected with a recharging plug 36connected by means of a recharging cable 38 to a battery charger circuitof the transmitter unit 20, described in greater detail below. In usefor receiving wireless audio signal transmissions from the transmitterunit 20, the receiver unit 22 is uncoupled from the plug 36 and worn onthe listener's head for reproducing the wirelessly transmitted stereoaudio signals from the transmitter unit 20.

With reference now to FIG. 2A, the transmitter unit 20 is provided witha pair of input terminals 40 for receiving stereo audio modulationsignals. The pair of input terminals 40 include a first input terminal Lfor receiving a first stereo audio signal from the left channel of astereo audio signal source and a second input terminal R for receiving asecond stereo audio input signal from the right channel of the stereoaudio signal source. The stereo audio signal source may be, for example,a television receiver capable of supplying stereo audio output signals,a high fidelity receiver or amplifier, VCR, compact disc player, videodisc player, magnetic tape reproducing apparatus, phonograph, etc. Thepair of input terminals 40 are connected with a stereo input jack of thetransmitter unit 20 (not shown for purposes of simplicity and clarity),to which the cable 37 of FIG. 1 is removably connected for coupling theunit 20 with a local stereo audio signal source. The first and secondinput terminals, L and R, are coupled with an input of a volume control42 which permits a user to adjust the signal levels of the input audiosignals in order to achieve a desirably high signal modulation level tomaximize the signal to noise ratio of the signal radiated by thetransmitter unit 20. Another, and countervailing, purpose is to avoidovermodulation of the radiated signal which results in signaldistortion. The volume adjusted first and second input audio signals aresupplied at respective output terminals 44 and 46 of the volume control42.

In order to permit the user to determine whether overmodulation istaking place, an overmodulation detector 50 in accordance with oneaspect of the present invention is provided. Respective first and secondinput terminals 52 and 54 thereof are coupled with output terminals 44and 46 of the volume control 42 to receive the volume adjusted first andsecond input audio signals. The overmodulation detector 50 is operativeto produce an overmodulation detection signal whenever an absolute valueof either the signal received at the terminal 52 or the signal receivedat the terminal 54 exceeds a predetermined signal level which indicatesan overmodulation condition. An LED 56 is coupled with an output of theovermodulation detector 50 which serves to energize the LED 56 by meansof a drive signal produced in response to each overmodulation detectionsignal.

As described in greater detail hereinbelow, the overmodulation detector50 is operative to produce respective ones of the overmodulationdetection signals in response to corresponding narrow peaks of thevolume adjusted audio signals having absolute values which exceed thepredetermined signal level for respective periods less than apredetermined duration, such that the respective ones of theovermodulation detection signals each have a duration exceeding therespective period of its corresponding peak. In this fashion, it ispossible to ensure that the overmodulation detection signal extends fora minimum amount of time necessary to generate a visually perceptibleoutput from the LED 56. As will be seen from the more detaileddiscussion of the overmodulation detector 50 contained hereinbelow, bylengthening the duration of the overmodulation detection signal withrespect to the duration of narrow signal peaks of the input signalsreceived at the terminals 52 and 54, the overmodulation detector 50enables the user to determine when input signal peaks exceeding amaximum modulation level have occurred, even when such peaks extend foronly very brief intervals of time. This is especially useful fortransmitting audio signals produced by devices such as compact discplayers which produce signals having wide dynamic and frequency ranges.

The output terminals 44 and 46 of the volume control 42 are coupled withrespective moveable terminals of a double pole, double throw switch 48.Each of a first pair of fixed terminals of the switch 48 is connectedwith a respective input terminal of a low pass filter circuit 60. Thecircuit 60 carries out low pass filtering of the signals received at therespective input terminals thereof by strongly attenuating frequencycomponents thereof above 12 kilocycles. In this fashion, and inaccordance with another aspect of the present invention, high frequencyaudio noise which may be present in the signals received at the pair ofinput terminals 40 may be effectively removed. This feature isparticularly advantageous where audio signals provided from a televisionreceiver are to be transmitted, since these signals are rich in audiblebeat interference at the horizontal scanning frequency of approximately15,734 kilocycles. This feature is likewise useful for suppressing highfrequency noise in signals reproduced with the use of a tape deck andfor suppressing amplitude modulation beat notes in signals supplied byan AM receiver subject to interference by signals from adjacent stationson the AM band. The filtered signals from circuit 60 are providedthereby to respective inputs of a preemphasis circuit 62. The circuit 62carries out preemphasis in a conventional manner in order to boost thelevels of high signal frequencies which serves to reduce noise in thetransmitted signal, thus to improve the signal-to-noise ratio thereof.

For certain applications, such as the transmission of audio signalsproduced by a compact disc player, it is preferable to bypass the filtercircuit 60 in order to preserve high frequency components of the audiosignals. Accordingly, each of a second pair of fixed terminals of theswitch 48 is connected with a respective input of the preemphasiscircuit 62 to permit a user to selectively engage or disengage the lowpass filter circuit 60 depending on the presence or absence of highfrequency noise (for example, video signal noise in the audio output ofa television receiver) in the audio signal. In the alternative, in amodified transmitter unit in accordance with the present invention theswitch 48 and low pass filter circuit 60 are omitted from the unit sothat the output terminals 44 and 46 of the volume control 42 areconnected directly with respective inputs of the preemphasis circuit 62.

With reference also to FIG. 2B, in this alternative embodiment of thetransmitter unit a modified stereo audio input cable 300 includes a lowpass filter 302 affixed thereto and supported thereby for carrying outthe function of the low pass filter circuit 60 of FIG. 2A. Cable 300includes a first pair of audio cables 304 each connected at a first endwith a respective one of a first pair of audio plugs 306 adapted toconnect with a pair of audio output jacks of an audio signal source,such as a television receiver, whose output is likely to include highfrequency audio noise. Each of the first pair of audio cables 304 isconnected at a second end with a respective input of the low pass filtercircuit 302. Cable 300 also includes a second pair of audio cables 310connected at a first end with respective outputs of the low pass filtercircuit 302 and at a second end with a respective one of a second pairof audio plugs 312 for connecting the cable 300 with corresponding leftand right channel inputs of the modified transmitter unit. It will beappreciated that, in accordance with the modified transmitter unit, lowpass filtering to remove high frequency audio noise is enabled by usingthe cable 300 of FIG. 2A, while in the alternative, low pass filteringmay be disabled by employing a different audio input cable which doesnot incorporate a low pass filter circuit.

After preemphasis, the left and right channel volume adjusted audiosignals are supplied to respective inputs of a stereo multiplexer 64which is operable to produce a multiplexed stereo modulation signalwhich it supplies at an output terminal 66 thereof. The stereomultiplexer 64 forms a baseband audio component representing the sum ofthe left and right channel audio signals (L+R) and a difference signalrepresenting the difference between the left channel audio signal andthe right channel audio signal (L-R). The stereo multiplexer 64 producesa subcarrier having a frequency which is substantially equal to threetimes the horizonal frequency f_(H) of the video signal associated withthe input left and right channel audio signals. Accordingly, where suchvideo signal conforms to the NTSC system, the subcarrier frequency isselected to be substantially equal to 3×15.734 kilohertz, approximately47.202 kilohertz. The stereo multiplexer 64 modulates the approximately47.202 kilohertz subcarrier with the difference signal and suppressesthe subcarrier to form a suppressed carrier signal representing thedifference between the left channel audio signal and the right channelaudio signal (L-R). The stereo multiplexer 64 also produces a pilotsignal having a frequency equal to one half the subcarrier frequency,that is, approximately 23,601 kilohertz, and combines the baseband audiocomponent with the suppressed carrier signal and the pilot signal toform the multiplexed stereo modulation signal at the output terminal 66thereof.

Applicants have found that the use of a subcarrier having a frequencysubstantially equal to three times the horizontal scanning frequencyprovides the ability to avoid beat interference with video signalcomponents at the horizontal scanning frequency and harmonies thereof.Accordingly, beat interference which can occur where the subcarrierfrequency is either substantially equal to the horizontal scanningfrequency or second harmonic thereof can be avoided, without the loss ofstereo separation which can occur where the subcarrier frequency ishigher than three times the horizontal scanning frequency.

The output 66 of the stereo multiplexer 64 is coupled with a modulationsignal input terminal of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuit 70operative to frequency modulate a 913 MHz carrier which is supplied atan output terminal thereof to the transmitting antenna 72 to be radiatedwithin a local transmission area, typically within a radius ofapproximately one hundred feet from the transmitter unit 20.Transmitting antenna 72 may be, for example, a quarter wave dipoleantenna complying with applicable regulatory enactments. It will beappreciated that the reception range of the transmitted signal willdepend not only on the choice of the transmitting antenna 72 and the RFpower output by the transmitter unit 20, but also on receiversensitivity, the presence and nature of objects within the transmissionpath, as well as other factors.

Power for operating the transmitter unit 20, as well as for recharging abattery of the receiver unit 22, is provided, for example, by an AC/DCconverter unit which plugs into a wall socket and provides a low voltageDC output. The DC output of the AC/DC converter is coupled with a DCinput of the transmitter unit 20 to provide a direct current voltagethereto. A voltage regulator 80 serves to remove spikes in the input DCvoltage in conventional fashion and supplies a regulated DC voltage atan output 82 thereof. The output 82 is coupled with an input of a powerswitching circuit 90 which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

With reference also to FIG. 3, the power switching circuit 90 has afirst power output 92 coupled with power input terminals of theovermodulation detector 50, the stereo multiplexer 64 and the RFtransmitter circuit 70 to controllably provide operating power thereto.A second power output 94 of the power switching circuit 90 is coupledwith a power input of a battery charger 100 to controllably providepower thereto. Battery charger 100 has a pair of output chargingterminals including a positive charging terminal 102 and a negativecharging terminal 104 coupled through the recharging cable 38 with therecharging plug 36 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, power switching circuit 90 includes a PNP switchtransistor 110 having its emitter connected with the output 82 of thevoltage regulator 80 and its collector connected with the first poweroutput 92 of the power switching circuit 90. The base of the transistor110 is connected with a first terminal of a fixed resistor 113 whosesecond terminal is connected with the emitter of transistor 110, thesecond power output 94 of the power switching circuit 90, and a firstterminal of a current limiting resistor 126. A second terminal ofresistor 126 is connected to the anode of an LED indicator 124 whosecathode is connected to positive battery terminal 102. Furthermore, acharge state detection means, comprising an NPN transistor 116 togetherwith resistors 117 and 118, is provided to shut off the transmitterduring battery charging.

When the recharging plug 36 is connected with the jack 35 of thereceiver unit 22, the rechargeable battery of the receiver unit causescurrent to be drawn through current limiting resistor 126, developing avoltage drop across resistors 117 and 118 which act to divide thevoltage thereacross and apply the divided voltage to the base of NPNtransistor 116. Accordingly, the divided voltage change is sensed by NPNtransistor 116, which amplifies this voltage change and applies it as anON/OFF control signal to the base of PNP switch transistor 110 through aresistor 112. That is, when recharging current passes through resister126, the voltage drop at the base of transistor 116 turns off itscollector-emitter circuit, thus turning off transistor 110 to disablethe transmitter circuits. However, when recharging plug 36 is uncoupledfrom jack 35 of the receiver unit 22 so that recharging current nolonger flows through resistor 126, transistor 116 is turned on.Transistor 110 is also turned on as a consequence, so that power isapplied to the transmitter circuits. Accordingly, so long as thereceiver unit 22 is uncoupled from the transmitter unit 20, transmitteroperation is enabled. However, when the recharging input of the receiverunit is coupled with the battery charger 100 so that current is drawnthrough resistor 126, transistor 116 is turned off, thus turning offtransistor 110 and disabling the transmitter circuits.

With reference now to FIG. 4, the overmodulation detector 50 isillustrated therein in greater detail. The first input terminal 52 ofthe overmodulation detector 50 is coupled with the input of a firstbuffer amplifier 140 to provide the volume adjusted first input audiosignal thereto. The buffer amplifier 140 is operative to supply anoutput signal at an output 142 thereof which is proportional to thevolume adjusted first input audio signal. The output 142 is connectedwith the anode of a first germanium diode 144 of a peak detector circuit146. The second input terminal 54 of the overmodulation detector 50 iscoupled with the input of a second buffer amplifier 150 to supply thevolume adjusted second input audio signal thereto. Buffer amplifier 150is operative to supply an output signal at an output terminal 152thereof which is proportional to the volume adjusted second input audiosignal. The output 152 of the, buffer amplifier 150 is connected withthe anode of a second germanium diode 154 of the peak detector circuit146.

The cathodes of the first and second germanium diodes 144 and 154 areconnected with the first terminal of a fixed capacitor 160 as well as tothe first fixed terminal of a potentiometer 162. A second terminal ofthe capacitor 160 as well as a second fixed terminal of thepotentiometer 162 are connected to ground. A movable contact of thepotentiometer 62 is connected with an output 164 of the peak detectorcircuit 146. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the bufferamplifiers 140 and 150 will serve to charge the fixed capacitor 160through the germanium diodes 144 and 154, respectively, until thevoltage across the capacitor 160 is substantially equal to the voltageof the higher of the two output signal values provided at the outputterminals 142 and 152 of the buffer amplifiers 140 and 150. Thegermanium diodes 144 and 154 serve to prevent the reverse flow of chargefrom the capacitor 160 back into either of the output terminals 142 and152 thus to produce a peak value signal in the form of the voltageacross the capacitor 160 substantially equal to the higher one of thesignals provided at the output terminals 142 and 152. It will beappreciated that the germanium diodes 144 and 154 each desirably producea minimal voltage drop of approximately 0.2 volts. It will also be seenthat the potentiometer 162 will bleed charge from the capacitor 160, sothat once a peak value has been reached by a respective one of theoutput signals at one of the output terminals 142 and 152 and the valuethereof decreases from such peak value, the peak voltage therebyproduced across the capacitor 160 will decay in value as charge isremoved therefrom through the potentiometer 162. As will be seen below,the rate at which charge is bled from the capacitor 160 is controlled inorder to ensure that the value of the voltage across the capacitor 160decreases after the occurrence of a corresponding narrow peak at a rateless than a rate of decrease of the corresponding narrow peak.

The output 164 of the peak detector circuit 146 is coupled with thetrigger input of a Schmitt trigger circuit 170. Schmitt trigger circuit170 has an output terminal 172 where it supplies an output signal whichis either at a first, low voltage level or at a second, high voltagelevel depending both on the present voltage level of the trigger inputas well as the prior history thereof, so that the response of theSchmitt trigger circuit 170 to the trigger input is subject tohysteresis. That is, if the output signal of the circuit 170 at a givenpoint in time is at the first, low voltage level, a transition of thetrigger input voltage from a relatively low voltage which is less thanan ON trigger level of the circuit 170 to a value higher than such ONtrigger level will result in a state change of the output voltage atterminal 172 from the first, low voltage level to the second, highervoltage level. However, a subsequent decrease of the trigger inputvoltage below the ON trigger level will not thereby result in a statechange at the output 172 to the first, low voltage level until thetrigger input voltage falls below an OFF trigger level which is lessthan the 0N trigger level.

Accordingly, when the voltage at the output of the peak detector circuit146 rises above the ON trigger level when at least one of the signalsprovided at the outputs of the buffer amplifiers 140 and 150 exceeds apredetermined overmodulation level at a time when the output of theSchmitt trigger circuit 170 is in its first, low voltage level state,the circuit 170 responds by changing the state of its output to thesecond, high voltage level, thus to provide an overmodulation detectionsignal. Since the output level of the peak detector circuit 146 may beadjusted with the use of the potentiometer 162, it is thus possible toadjust the output of the peak detector circuit so that it exceeds the ONtrigger level of the circuit 170 at the point where an overmodulationcondition first occurs. The output 172 of the Schmitt trigger circuit170 is coupled with the input of an LED driver circuit 176 having anoutput coupled with the LED 56 and operative to energize the LED 56 toemit a visible light signal when the voltage level at the output 172 ofthe circuit 170 is at the second, high voltage level, thus to provide avisible indication to a user that overmodulation is occurring.

As explained hereinabove, certain peak signal values in the form ofsharp voltage spikes representing, for example, large high frequencycomponents of either the first or second input audio signals may exceedthe overmodulation level for a period of time which is too brief toproduce a visible output from the LED 56 if it is energized for only thebrief interval during which the audio signal exceeds the overmodulationlevel. For such narrow audio signal peaks, therefore, the rate at whichthe voltage across the capacitor 160 of the peak detector circuit 146decays as it discharges through the potentiometer 162 and the triggerinput of the circuit 170, is selected so that it is slower than the rateat which the level of the input audio signal decreases from its narrowpeak value. With reference also to FIG. 5, one of the audio outputsignals from the amplifiers 140 and 150 having a higher amplitude thanthe other thereof is illustrated as a solid line waveform 179 plottedalong a time axis t and having an amplitude measured by an orthogonalaxis A. The output of the Schmitt trigger circuit 170 along the sametime axis is represented by the waveform 181 of FIG. 5. In the waveformdiagram of FIG. 5, moreover, the voltage across the capacitor 160 of thepeak detector circuit 146 substantially coincides with that of the audiooutput signal except where the audio output signal is decreasing invalue, whereupon the voltage across capacitor 160 diverges from thevalue of the audio signal as indicated by the dash lines 185 in FIG. 5.

If it is assumed that the output of the peak detector circuit isselected by the potentiometer 162 to be the same as the voltage acrossthe capacitor 160, and the ON trigger level of the circuit 170 isrepresented by the one-dot chain line 178 of FIG. 5, at a time t₀ atwhich a relatively narrow peak of the audio signal 180 first exceeds theON trigger level 178, the output 181 of the Schmitt trigger circuit 170switches from a low to a high voltage level. Once the value of the inputaudio signal has exceeded a peak amplitude level and falls in valuethereafter, the output of the peak detector circuit 146 decays at arelatively slower rate so that its amplitude remains higher over timethan the decreasing amplitude of the audio signal. Since the OFF triggerlevel of the Schmitt trigger 170 is lower than its ON trigger level, theON output state thereof will persist until a point in time after theoutput of the peak detector 146 decays below the ON trigger level of thecircuit 170. Accordingly, if the point at which the output from the peakdetector circuit 164 falls below the OFF trigger level of the circuit170 occurs at a time t₁ as illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponding with thepoint 182 along the waveform 185 representing the output of the peakdetector circuit 146, it will be appreciated that the output 181 of theSchmitt trigger circuit 170 will remain at a high level from time t₀until time t₁ as shown in the illustration of FIG. 5.

It will also be seen by reference to FIG. 5 that the relatively narrowpeak 180 of the audio signal will fall below the ON trigger level of theSchmitt trigger 170 at a point t₂ corresponding with the cessation ofthe overmodulation condition. Accordingly, it will be seen that fornarrow peaks of the input audio signals, such as the illustrative peakwaveform 180 of FIG. 5, the Schmitt trigger circuit 170 will output anovermodulation detection signal persisting for a period of timesubstantially longer than that during which the overmodulation conditionpersists. The rate of decay in the voltage across the capacitor 160 aswell as the difference in the ON and OFF trigger levels of the circuit170 are selected so that the ON output state of the circuit 170 will bemaintained for a predetermined minimum amount of time necessary toproduce a visible output by the LED 56 even for corresponding narrowpeaks of the input audio signals which exceed the overmodulation levelfor a shorter period of time.

It will be appreciated that, if the rate of decay of the voltage acrossthe capacitor 160 is made sufficiently low, in certain embodiments theSchmitt trigger circuit 170 may be replaced, for example, by a thresholddetector or similar device for generating the overmodulation detectionsignal having a duration longer than that during which predeterminednarrow peaks of the input audio signal exceed the overmodulation level.In addition, it will be appreciated that in certain further embodiments,the peak detector 146 may be eliminated if the difference in the ON andOFF trigger levels of the Schmitt trigger circuit 170 are set atsubstantially different values, thus to lengthen the duration of the ONoutput state of the circuit 170 to provide a visible indication ofsignal peaks which exceed the overmodulation level for a relativelyshorter period of time.

With reference now to FIG. 6, the radio frequency (RF) transmittercircuit 70 of FIG. 2A is illustrated therein in greater detail. Thecircuit 70 has an input terminal 190 coupled with the multiplexer outputterminal 66 (FIG. 2A) to receive the multiplexed stereo modulationsignal therefrom. The terminal 190 is connected with the cathode of avaractor diode 192 whose anode is connected to ground. The inputterminal 190 is also connected with a first terminal of a fixedcapacitor 194 having a second terminal connected with a first terminalof a two terminal ceramic resonator 196 whose second terminal isconnected to ground.

The ceramic resonator 196, varactor diode 192 and capacitor 194connected in the foregoing manner constitute a resonant circuit whoseresonant frequency is determined principally by that of the ceramicresonator 196. The ceramic resonator 196 is loaded by the varactor diode192 through the fixed capacitor 194, so that as the multiplexed stereomodulation signal received at the terminal 190 varies the capacitance ofthe varactor diode 192, the resonant frequency of the circuit consistingof the varactor diode 192, capacitor 194 and ceramic resonator 196varies linearly therewith. The first terminal of the ceramic resonator196 and second terminal of the capacitor 194 are coupled with anoscillator 200 through a fixed capacitor 198 which is operative toproduce an oscillation voltage at the resonant frequency of the circuitconsisting of the resonator 196, diode 192 and capacitor 194. Theresonant frequency of the ceramic resonator is selected as 913 MHz, sothat the oscillator 200 produces an oscillation voltage of approximately913 Mhz frequency modulated by the multiplexed stereo audio signalreceived at the terminal 190. The ceramic resonator 196 provides highfrequency stability, but possesses a relatively low Q, so that thevariable loading produced by the varactor diode 192 in response tochanges in the modulation signal produces relatively large variations inthe frequency of the oscillation voltage, thus to advantageously achievea high signal-to-noise ratio thereof.

The oscillator 200 has an output terminal 202 coupled with an input ofan impedance matching circuit 204 which serves to match the outputimpedance of the oscillator 200 with the impedance of a transmittingantenna 206 coupled with an output of the impedance matching circuit 204to receive the frequency modulated oscillation voltage therefrom, thusto radiate a frequency modulated radio signal within a localtransmission area.

The circuitry of the receiver unit 22 is illustrated in greater detailin FIG. 7. The receiving antenna 210 mounted on the headband supportmember 26, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is coupled with the input of animpedance matching network 212 having an output coupled with the inputof a radio frequency (RF) amplifier 214. The impedance matching network212 serves to match the impedance of the receiving antenna 210 with theinput impedance of the RF amplifier 214. The RF amplifier 214 serves toboost the level of the received 913 Mhz signal from the transmitter unit20 and provides the amplified signal to a first input of an active mixer216. The RF amplifier 214 is advantageously implemented by a dual-gateMOSFET which provides high gain amplification with low noise. Inaddition, the second gate serves as a means for adjusting the gain ofthe MOSFET to achieve automatic gain control (AGC) in response to an AGCvoltage supplied in conventional fashion by AGC circuits (not shown forpurposes of simplicity and clarity).

The receiver unit 22 includes a local oscillator 218 coupled with asecond input of the mixer 216 to supply a local oscillation voltagethereto for downconverting the received 913 MHz signal provided by theRF amplifier 214. The local oscillation voltage produced by the localoscillator 218 has a fixed frequency of approximately 978 MHz stabilizedby a SAW resonator. Accordingly, the mixer 216 serves to down convertthe 913 MHz signal received from the RF amplifier 214 with the use ofthe 978 MHz local oscillation voltage. More specifically, it will beappreciated that the mixer 216 down converts a band of frequencies fromthe 900 MHz local transmission band including the band of frequencies inwhich the frequency modulated radio signals from the transmitter unit 20are contained.

The downconverted signals are supplied at an output 220 of the mixer 216which is coupled with a first fixed terminal of a single pole doublethrow switch 222. A second fixed terminal of the switch 222 is connectedwith the receiving antenna 210. A movable terminal of the switch 222 iscoupled with the radio frequency input of an FM receiver 226 so thateither the down converted signals output by the mixer 216 or signalspicked up by the receiving antenna 210 may be supplied to the FMreceiver 226. The FM receiver 226 in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention comprises an FM broadcast bandreceiver integrated circuit capable of tuning either the band ofdownconverted signals provided by the mixer 216 at a frequency ofapproximately 65 MHz or else the FM broadcast band signals providedthereto directly from the receiving antenna 210, and is capable ofdemultiplexing the stereo audio signals included either in thedownconverted signals or the FM broadcast signals. A suitable FMreceiver integrated circuit is the Sony Model CXA 1238M/S integratedcircuit. A switchable tuning network 230 is coupled with the FM receiver226 and is operative to selectively tune the FM receiver 226 either atapproximately 65 MHz or within the FM broadcast band (in the UnitedStates, extending from approximately 88 MHz to 108 MHz). The tuningnetwork 230 is coupled with the movable contact of a potentiometer 232having a first fixed terminal connected to receive a positive supplyvoltage V⁺ and a second fixed terminal connected to ground. The movableterminal of the potentiometer 232 is coupled with a varactor diode ofthe tuning network 230 (not shown for purposes of simplicity andclarity) to adjustably tune a selected one of the downconverted 65 MHzsignal provided from the mixer 216 or a desired station within the FMbroadcast band.

The FM receiver 226 provides the demultiplexed left and right channelaudio signals produced from the received radio frequency signals atrespective outputs 240 and 242 coupled with respective inputs of aheadphone driver 244. The headphone driver 244 amplifies the left andright channel audio signals from the FM receiver 226 which it suppliesat respective outputs 250 and 252 for provision to respectiveelectroacoustic transducer elements of the stereo headphone unit 24. Theheadphone driver 244 also includes a volume control (not shown forpurposes of simplicity and clarity) for controlling the loudness of theacoustic signals produced by the transducers of the headphone unit 24.

The supply voltage V⁺ is provided to the circuits of the receiver unit22 from a rechargeable battery 260 mounted within the housing 34 ofFIG. 1. A positive charging input terminal 264 of the receiver unit 22connected with the recharging input jack 35 thereof, is coupled with theanode of a diode 262 whose cathode is coupled with the positive terminalof the rechargeable battery 260, thus to prevent discharge of thebattery 260 through the positive charging input terminal 264.

With reference now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of a receiverunit in accordance with the present invention is illustrated therein inwhich the circuity of the receiver unit is enclosed within and supportedby an enclosure unit 400. Accordingly, the unit 400 encloses andsupports each of the elements 212 through 244 as well as the diode 262and rechargeable battery 260. The outputs 250 and 252 of the headphonedriver 244 are connected with a stereo output jack 410 mounted on theenclosure unit 400 for coupling the stereo input plug 412 of a stereoheadphone unit 420 with the headphone driver 244 to supply the stereoaudio signals output by the receiver unit to the headphone unit 420. Theenclosure unit 400 is shaped generally as a rectangular parallelepipedand dimensioned to fit within the shirt pocket of a user, so that thereceiver unit may be carried conveniently on the person of the user. Inaddition, by mounting the receiver unit's circuitry as well as itsrechargeable battery within the enclosure unit 400 and apart from theheadphone unit 420, the user may select whatever headphone unit he orshe may wish to use with the receiver unit.

It will be appreciated that the elements of the receiver unit arereadily implemented with a relatively small number of components andthat, due to the compact size of the FM receiver integrated circuit, allof the circuitry of the receiver unit 22 may be constructed, asindicated in FIG. 1, as a light weight and miniaturized apparatus whichis affixed to the headband support member 26, or, as illustrated by FIG.8, supported within an enclosure which fits in the user's pocket.Accordingly, the receiver unit may be worn by or carried on the user inorder to receive either the locally transmitted audio signals from aselected local audio source, or else a desired FM broadcast signal.Since the locally transmitted signals are not line-of-sitetransmissions, it is possible for the user to move about within thelocal transmission area while receiving the signals from the transmitterunit 20 despite the intervention of walls and other objects.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described indetail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A local area wireless stand alone audio signaltransmission and receiver system, comprising:a transmitter transmittingstereo multiplexed FM audio signals within a first, relatively highfrequency band at least as high as approximately 900 MHZ; and a receiverlocated within said local area, said receiver comprising:an antenna toreceive the transmitted FM audio signals; a first downconverterconnected to said antenna to reduce the frequency of the transmittedstereo multiplexed FM audio signals to a second frequency band lowerthan the first, relatively high approximately 900 MHZ frequency band, astandard FM audio receiver wired to said first downconverter to detectand restore said audio signals from said transmitted FM audio signalswithin said second frequency band; said standard FM audio receivercomprising a second downconverter to downconvert from said secondfrequency band to a lower frequency used to generate audio signals, atleast one of said first or second downconverters being tunable, whereinthe frequency of said FM audio signal in said second frequency iscapable of being received by said standard FM radio receiver; a tuningnetwork connected to said standard FM radio receiver to detect said FMaudio signal in said second frequency band, at least oneelectroacoustical transducer to which said audio signals detected andrestored by said FM audio receiver is supplied; wherein said receiver iscapable of being easily moved by an individual within said local areawhile still receiving said transmitted FM audio signals; and whereinsaid second frequency band is outside the commercial FM band of 88 to108 MHZ.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the standard FM radioreceiver is operable to process FM audio signals in the range ofapproximately 30 to 120 MHz.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidreceiver is housed in headphones.
 4. The invention of claim 3 whereinsaid standard FM receiver is an integrated circuit.
 5. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said standard FM radio receiver is an integratedcircuit.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said standard FM radioreceiver is also operable to separate multiplexed stereo signals fromsaid audio signals after detection and restoration from said FM audiosignals within said second frequency band.
 7. The invention of claim 1wherein said standard receiver is portable.
 8. The invention of claim 1wherein said second frequency band is outside the normal range at whichthe standard FM radio receiver receives FM signals.
 9. The invention ofclaim 8 wherein said first or second downconverters are manuallytunable.
 10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said standard FM audioreceiver is also operable to separate multiplexed stereo signals fromsaid audio signals after detection and restoration from said FM audiosignals within said second frequency band.
 11. The invention of claim 8wherein said receiver is portable.
 12. The invention of claim 1 whereinsaid audio signals are high fidelity.
 13. The invention of claim 1wherein said first or second downconverters are manually tunable.
 14. Alocal area wireless stand alone receiver for audio signals transmittedas stereo multiplexed FM audio signals within a first, relatively highfrequency band at least as high as approximately 900 MHZ; said receiverbeing movable from place to place by the user within the local area, andfurther comprising:an antenna to receive the transmitted FM audiosignals; a first downconverter connected to said antenna to reduce thefrequency of the transmitted stereo multiplexed FM audio signals to asecond frequency band lower than the first, relatively highapproximately 900 MHZ frequency band, a standard FM radio receiver wiredto said downconverter to detect and restore said audio signals from saidtransmitted FM audio signals within said second frequency band; saidstandard FM radio receiver comprising a second downconverter responsiveto downconvert from said second frequency band to a lower frequency usedto recover said audio signals, at least one of said first or seconddownconverters being tunable, wherein the frequency of said FM audiosignal in said second frequency band is capable of being received bysaid standard FM radio receiver; a tuning network connected to thestandard FM radio receiver to detect said FM audio signal in said secondfrequency band, at least one electroacoustical transducer to which saidaudio signal detected and restored by said FM radio receiver issupplied, and wherein said second frequency band is outside thecommercial FM band of 88 to 108 MHZ.
 15. The invention of claim 14wherein the standard FM audio receiver is operable to process FM audiosignals in the range of approximately 30 to 120 MHz.
 16. The inventionof claim 14 wherein said receiver is housed in headphones.
 17. Theinvention of claim 16 wherein said standard FM receiver is an integratedcircuit.
 18. The invention of claim 14 wherein said standard FM audioreceiver is an integrated circuit.
 19. The invention of claim 14 whereinsaid second frequency band is outside the normal range at which thestandard FM radio receiver receives FM signals.
 20. The invention ofclaim 14 wherein said first or second downconverters are manuallytunable.
 21. The invention of claim 14 wherein said audio signals arehigh fidelity.